Yielding joint-strip for thresholds.



F. T. RILEY.

YIELDING JOINT STRIP FOB THRESHOLDS.

APPLICATION r|LEo:uNE18.|915.

Y 12109535., Patented J an. 2, 1917.

.citizen of the n errar ATFAT @FFMFL YIELDING JOINT-STRIP FOR THRESI-IOLDS.

Specicaton of Letters Patent.

Patented dan. 2, 191?.

Application filed J une 18, 1915. Serial No. 34,821.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that l, FRANK T. RILEY', a United States, residing at Tappen, in the county of Kidder and State of North Dakota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Yielding Joint- Strips for Thresholds; and 1 clare the following to be a full, exact description of the will enable others skilled in the art lto which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to improvements in yielding joint strips :tor thresholds; and, to this end, it consists oi' the novel devices an combinations of devices hereinafter described and defined in the claims.

1n the accompanying drawings, which illustrate the invention, like characters indicate like parts throughout the several views.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is a transverse section showing the invention applied in working position; Fig. 2 is a view corresponding to Fig. 1 with the exception that some parts are removed; and Fig. 3 is a longitudinal vertical section taken on the line ac3-m3 of Fig. 1.

Of the parts of a building, illustrated for the purpose of showing the invention applied in working position, it is only necessary to note the floors 1, door opening 2, door casings 3 and a door 4 provided for closing the door opening 2 and mounted for horizontal swinging movement.

Extending transversely across the door opening 2, between the door casings 3, is a metal threshold 5 having on its under side an extension 6 which projects into a channel 7 formed between the two oors 1. Formed in the threshold 5 and its extension 6 is a longitudinally extended recess 8 having an open bottom and a contracted throat. The open bottom of the recess 8 is normally closed by a bottom plate 9, detachably secured to the threshold extension 6 by machine screws 10. The contracted throat oi. the recess 8 has sharp knife-like longitudinal edges which extend the full length of the threshold and the purpose of which will presently appear. Wood screws 11, having their heads counter-sunk in the beveled longitudinal edge portions of the threshold .5, are provided for detachably securing said threshold to the floors 1 on each side of the channel 7. ntegrally formed with each end of the bottoni plate 9 is a pair of vertically extended horizontally spaced guides clear, and

do hereby de- '14 are journaled in bearings 15, invention, such as` 12, which project into the recess 8. 1t is, of course, understood that these guides 12 may be formed with the threshold, if so desired.

A non-pliable joint strip, in the form or" a roller 13, having at its ends trunnions 14, is mounted in the recess 5. The trunnions slidably mounted between the guides 12. Coiled springs 16 are compressed between the lower ends of the bearings 15 and the bottom plate 9. These coiled springs 16 tend to raise the bearings 15 and thereby yieldingly hold the roller 1'3 in contact with the knifelike edges of the throat of the recess 8, for closing the recess 8 when the door 4 is open.

On the bottom of the door 4 is secured, by wood screws 17, a metal weather strip 18 having a longitudinally extended channel 19 which snugly iits within a groove 20 formed in the bottom edge of the door 4. Integrally Jformed with the outer face of the weather strip 18, is a pair of longitudinally extended inwardly converging retaining anges 21, located one on each side of the channel 19. A pliable joint strip 22 of rubber or other suitable material is detachably secured to the weather strip 18 for cooperation with the roller 13, when the door 4 is closed, to afford a weather-proof joint between said door and the threshold. rlhe exposed face of the joint strip 22 is segmental in cross section and its sharp longitudinal edges are overlapped by the retaining llanges 21, for detachably holding the joint strip 22 to the weather strip 18. integrally formed with the inner face of the joint strip 22, is an extension 24 which tightly tits within the channel 19 and assists in holding the joint strip 22 against transverse movement on the weather strip 18. Obviously, during the closing movement of the door 4, one of the curved longitudinal edge portions of the joint strip 22 will engage the roller 13 and forcethe same downward against the tension of the springs 16, and at the same time cause a partial rotation of the roller 13 to reduce the friction thereon. When the door 4 is closed, the tension of the springs 16 is sufficient to slightly force the roller 13 into the pliable joint strip 22, as best shown in Fig. 1, to make a tight joint therebetween. When the door 4 is open, the springs 16 will lift the bearings 15 and carry therewith the roller 13 into contact with the longitudinal edges of the contracted throat of the threshold 3 to thereby close the recess 8. The knife edge contact of the threshold with the roller 13 prevents dirtrfrom accumulating at the joints between the roller and threshold. As the recess 8 is automatically closed by the roller 13 when the door '4L is open, all dirt, dust, and the like is excluded therefrom and makes it possible to sweep over the threshold without danger of lling up the recess 8.

What I claim is:

l. A threshold extending above and below the floor line and having on its sides beveled flanges which overlie the floor, said threshold also having a recess with a contracted throat in the top thereof and a displaceable bottom, in combination with a radially movable roller mounted in the recess of said threshold, of springs yieldingly holding the roller in the contracted throat of the threshold.

Vvided withk a recess 2. The combination with a. door casing, a door mounted therein, and a threshold prohaving a contracted throat extending the full distance between the uprights of the door casing, said threshold also having end extensions projecting under the uprights of the casing, of vertically movable bearings mounted in the end extensions of the threshold, a roller having trunnions mounted in the recess of the threshold with its trunnions journaled in said bearings, and springs compressed be-v tween said bearings and the bottom of the recess for yieldingly pressing the roller in engagement with the door when closed.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

FRANK T. RILEY. Witnesses:

JAMES MGKEE, MRS. F. T. Rmx.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Ilatents,

Washington, D. C. 

